Life in The Jen'ari Empire - Sandbox Thread

[Taru Cadera]

Kao almost laughed when he saw Khali become even more upset when having overheard him talk of their destination, because as he believed if anyone were to hear of it that they too would quiet immediately. But not Kao, who was one of two apprentices to Darth Animus, as his Master liked to hole up there. Kao personally hated the cold, but he was getting used to it, and to exerting his powers to keep himself warm.

He had seen the girl look at him in surprise when he had been without a hood and she could see his true face, and he hoped that she would not respect him less because of his age... Kao decided then to tell her what was going on: "We are going to the Imperial Prison, not because you deserve to be situated there, because if you did as a slave you would have been killed, but because I need to get something first. We shall then be going to the Capitol, on Jenates. There you shall meet my Master. I believe that this is because you are a force-sensitive yourself ... , are you not?" After pausing for effect and to give the girl sometime to think (Kao was not unreasonable), he then said in a tone which demanded respect: "You may speak freely, and if needed ask questions...".

 

[Khali Strahd]

Some of the tension left her shoulders when he told her she was not going to another prison. she relaxed ever so slightly as she began to adjust to the comfortable seating. she folded her hands on her lap and cautiously turned her eyes up to look at the sith again, her eyes showed fear and respect, and even admiration. she wondered at what this boy must have gone through to gain such a manner of command, respect and power, she especially marveled at how much power he had and knew that what she could see on the surfice was only a taste of his true strength.

She nervously licked her dry lips and spoke, her voice was rough and hourse from her life in the filthy pens, "master... I have three questions if I may... What is your name?... Who is your master?... What fate awaits me on Jena'Tes?"

She involuntarily shivered at the thought of someone as powerful as him having someone even more powerful above him, teaching him. she allowed herself a sliver of hope that... maybe... she might be taught as well.

[member="Kao Xusros"]

 

[Taru Cadera]

They were very close to arriving at the Imperial Prison, where Kao would grab something and return to the shuttle to finish their journey. Before this, he had given the girl a chance to speak, a chance to ask. She had done so, and he willingly replied...

"My Master is Darth Animus, of the Dark Council. You are a Force-sensitive, so i believe that you shall be made an Acolyte and trained. Maybe one day to even become an apprentice. As to my name, it is Xusros. Kao Xusros." He had said with style and respect while leaving the shuttle, as they had touched done at the Imperial Prison. As the door had opened, the wind much colder than it had ever been, pummeled through the shuttle, but Kao walked through it calmly. In fact, he had prepared himself for the cold and had already brought his body temperature up high enough to start to char his cloak with the Force. He walked off of the ramp, it closed behind him, and he went alone. He came back to the shuttle after approximately five minutes, with a small bag at his side. Saying nothing, he sat back down and once more prepared himself for launch. With the door/ramp open the cold once again had hammered the insides of the shuttle, but it was nothing to Kao, who by now was his own heat source. "Well?... know that you now my name do you have anything to say?..."

[member="Khali Strahd"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Khali Strahd]

Kao Xusros... he said his name and she felt warmth. that he granted her request to share his name with her gave her more confidence and she no longer felt death so close. her shoulders relaxed a little bit more and she raised her head and looked at him more freely.

she waited patiently when they landed and he left the ship. she reflected on the passt few hours. not long ago she was wishing for unconciousness to bring her back to her cot in the slave pens, but now Kao says she will be trained because of this gift that everyone else saw as a curse.

she looked up as the ramp lowered again and brought a blast of cold and Kao Xusros returning with it. she waited for him to be seated, and when he asked if she had anything to say she felt it safe to respond. "Master... I am still overwhelmed... this is all happening so quickly. I wonder if I may ask... how are you so powerful while still so young... master?"

She decided that she shouldn't let it go to her head and to refrane from asking direct questions until a later time, perhaps when she sees for herself that what he says is true.

[member="Kao Xusros"]

 

[Taru Cadera]

By the time that Khali had come around and asked him of his powers, they had started their descent onto the planet. Jen'ates, the capitol of the Jen'ari Empire and most likely Kao's birthplace. But he did not know this or care about that. He replied with pride by saying: "I was born with a strong connection to the Force. I have always known that. And even so there is much that I do not know or understand. But I know that I am stronger than most, and I of this I do not boast lightly..." He stood up, and beckoning for Khali to follow him, stepped out of the shuttle.

They walked across the planet, well known to Kao now but probably new to Khali. They walked for a bit until they reached what looked like a small temple but actually housed the Sith Academy. Kao remembered with a smirk on his face as to how weak he had been when he had first walked where he walked now. This path seemed both modern and ancient, and so did the Sith Academy. They entered the Academy with respect for those training inside and turned right, where Kao led them down a hall and to the left, where a door stood half open. It was as if someone was waiting for them inside, and they were right. Kao entered first, and strode forwards before kneeling abruptly near the feet of a figure who faced the other way. With his voice full of respect, Kao stated: "Master,.. I have returned. And I have brought the girl..."

[member="Khali Strahd"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Khali Strahd]

She wondered at what he said, that he was born with a strong connection to the force. she reflected that she also could not remember when she was without this power, but she also couldn't remember much of her life before the slave pens. when he stood and motioned for her to follow she quickly followed suit and padded behind him, mentally regretting that she had to leave the comfort of the shuttle seat.

She followed him down the ramp and out onto the landing pad. she followed him wherever he led, padding quickly and quietly on her bare feet behind him to keep up. when they came in sight of the academy she nearly stumbled when she saw the great tomb before them. she recovered and quickly rushed to keep up with Kao. she kept closer to him once they entered the academy.

she looked around in awe of all the sith training there, but she took a que from Koa and moved quickly past them until they came to a room. she saw Kao enter the room. before she came close to the door she could feel the wave of immense power radiating from inside, ten times greater than even Kao. the sheer amount of dark energy struck her heart with fear as she loyally entered the room behind Kao. when he kneeled before the towering figure, she knelt as well, from fear, respect, and the fact that she was so overwhelmed that her legs gave out and she could do nothing but kneel and bow her head in the presence of such power.

[member="Kao Xusros"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[grammaticus]

Animus turned from the holotable he had been looking at, the planets within the Jen'ari Empire and the locations of every ship and regiment displayed in light blue shades. He reached behind him to deactivate the table upon seeing who was here, before walking down the short flight of stairs that separated him from the ground level. He took in the two individuals before him, one he knew, and the other a stranger. His apprentice, [member="Kao Xusros"] had been to be quite useful and competent in the time he had been with Animus, something that was rare to find in the galaxy these days. Powerful in the Dark Side of the Force already, and with a keen mind for combat, he would prove to be a powerful Sith for the Empire in the near future. However, at the moment his focus was turned to the woman his apprentice had brought.

"Rise, Apprentice. You have done well to bring her here. Tell me, what have you learned of her so far..." As Animus spoke, he walked towards [member="Khali Strahd"], with a simple gesture of his hand lifting her off the ground and suspending her in the air. He circled around her, inspecting her with both his eyes and the Force, detecting her power and her fear. He came to stand before her, his helmet level with her eyes as he regarded her coolly. She was strong, he could sense that, though she was untested. It would be some time before she could fully grasp the power she held within herself, and longer still until she would be confident enough to use it.

Turning away from her, Animus let her drop back to the ground as he walked back towards his Apprentice, coming to stand beside him and waiting to hear his report.

 

[Khali Strahd]

It took a trmendous force of will for Khali to remain concious from the amount of power radiating from this being, and that struggle was nearly tripled when he descended the steps and came closer. since the moment she entered the room her breathing had become labored and she began to prespire with her struggle.

She gasped and almost fell into hyperventillations as that power reached out and touched her, lifting her from the floor and holding her in the air, the borrowed cloak falling from her shoulders, revealing her rags and tattooed body. Her eyes darted and finally settled on following Darth Animus as she could no longer hide herself with a cloak and a bowed head. she focused on brining her breathing back under control, taking deep breathes to focus her body amid her palpitating heart and lungs.

She watched as Darth Animus circled her, looking her over like a predator admiring an upcoming kill. as he held her she felt something... like, a deep seated hunger that had always been there was slowly being filled. in the invisible fingers that held her in the air, she felt as if she were held in the warm arms of someone who actually cared.

when he dropped her she landed on her feet, then simply fell to both knees with her hand loose at her sides as if preparing to pray, and her eyes never leaving the powerful sith. almost as quickly as she felt that hunger filled, as soon as he let go she felt empty again. she could not understand any of it, but she knew that she must follow wherever that strength leads.

[member="Kao Xusros"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Khali Strahd]

Double post. please ignore.

 

[Taru Cadera]

After being given permission to rise, Kao silently stood, and watched the semi-amusing spectacle of his Master lifting Khali with the Force to inspect her. He was told to report on what he had surmised of the girl, so he did.

"She has a connection to the Force, and can seemingly smell power. Im surprised that she has not fainted yet, as the Academy is filled with acolytes both strong and weak in the Force. The slave mentality that she has is useful, and she has not tried anything special with me, but i am not sure if that is out of respect or fear." He paused, as if he were searching for the right words to use and then continued: "She is also skinny, and can endure the cold. It will be interesting to see what she amounts to..." Having completed a basic report on what he saw and felt about the girl, Kao waited patiently for his Master's next choice of action or speech. He only hoped that it would be a good one...

[member="Khali Strahd"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Khali Strahd]

Khali sat dumbfounded on the floor, unable to take her eyes away from the two masses of power before her, but mostly at the much larger and darker mass that was Darth Animus. She listened, but only barely heard. she gathered that they were talking about her and surmised that they were deciding what was to be her fate.

It took her a moment but she suddenly remembered to breath and took a deep breath through her nose, what she smelled made her pulse quicken and her eyes widened as her senses became sharper. she became distinctly aware of the sound of their heartbeats and how they were connected with the masses of power around them. her eyes focused through the mass of power, following the pulsating, and when she looked she could all but see the power coursing through their veins in incredible bursts. he shuddered but could not look away, seeing underneath the veil and what was truly concealed.

She felt something move inside her and her gut lurched in response, if she had eaten anything she would have heaved it up on the floor. she felt a deep hunger quickly growing inside of her that began in her heart and spread to fill her whole body. her thin muscles ached and twitched and she was forced to double over with her palms against the floor and her head bowed.

She was breathing hard but it appeared that she was simply overcome by their combined presence, though it's apparent that something else is going on. She did her best to hold herself back, and tried to focus on what was being said.

 

[grammaticus]

"You shall take her to living quarters in the western area of the Academy, away from the other apprentices and acolytes. Get her situated, and then ensure that no other Sith get any ideas. You shall run her through any tests you feel necessary, and I shall come later to conduct my own. Ensure that she does not die before I arrive." With those few words Animus turned away from the two Sith, his actions signifying a clear end to the conversation.

In truth he was extremely curious about this slave. The ability to smell the Force...Such a thing was unheard of as far as he knew, and the possibilities for such a harnessed talent, if used correctly, could be great. He would need to look into it, and contact his sources to find out what they knew. If at all possible, he could possibly have found a new weapon to fulfill his own ambitions.

[member="Kao Xusros"]
[member="Khali Strahd"]

 

[Khali Strahd]

She only barely heard Darth Animus give the orders. her stomach was cramping and her breathing was out of control. she squeezed her eyes shut as her muscles twitched and spasomed agonizingly. she remained knelt and bent over on the floor. she pressed her forehead into the cool floor to try to alleviate some of her suffering, but to little avail as every breath she took brought a fresh scent of the power so close to her, beating and pulsing through their powerful bodies like organic machines that could tear apart worlds with the velocity of power rushing through them.

She didn't know why she was reacting this way towards their power, or even what her body was telling her. she felt a prick on the inside of her lip from her extending canine teeth as she swallowed to keep her hyperventilation from causing her to drool, and fresh warm blood began to drip from her mouth instead. The pain drove her to keep her mouth open as she gasped out of control, bleeding freely and now wary of fangs appearing in her mouth.

There was a slight scratching sound on the floor and she spared a dreading glance to see what else was happening to her that she could not understand or control. she saw her nails extending into darkened claws which had already scratched deep into the permacrete she was knelt on as her agony drove her.

She tried to blink away tears of frustration, confusion and pain but they arose unbidden anyways and she sobbed. she could not see it, but the whites of her eyes began to blacken and her vision began to change again as her irises narrowed to slits. Everything became very clear and distinct, lights seemed to change color and even sounds became sharper and more vivid to her ears.

Even now she didn't seem like a threat or even a cause for concern, appearing to still only be struggling under the weight of their power, and the changes she was undergoing were not immediately apparent unless one looked specifically at these transforming aspects of her body.

[member="Kao Xusros"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Taru Cadera]

Kao understood his orders, and prepared for Khali. His ideas were correct as she was barely up off of the ground, shivering and seemingly in pain. She could probably make a great sorcerer one day, or at least would be a conduct for one. He levitated her up off of the ground and tried to get her to stand on her own, but she would not stop shivering violently and silently crying. Her mouth bleed a little and her eyes, well they were different. It was as though something had possessed her and she was fighting a losing battle. Seeing as to how she was in no way able to walk, let alone stand, Kao decided to have her levitate before him as he walked. Kao's Master had never seen Kao use such precision with his levitation, but at the very same time he had never seen him use it. Kao understood that if there were going to be tricks hidden up his Master's sleeves, then there would be some up his too.

He walked out of the room, Khali levitating mid-air in front of him. She seemed to have gone limp within the last minute of being encapsulated in the Force (which is kind-of how levitation works). He walked straight through the middle of the training area, as this was the quickest way to the living quarters. Inside there was a multitude of acolytes training, with some stopping to stare and gawk. One youngster got to close, and Kao decided to backhand him. His hand had quickly infused itself in Sith Lightning, and the slap therefore contained both the humiliation of a slap and the pain of Sith Lightning. This was another thing which he did not always share with others, as it was an unusual form of Sith Lightning. "Out of my way!" commanded Kao, as the youngster had buckled over and was still unmoving. Truly a weakling, that one was.

He got through into the western area, and got her into an isolated room. Here he dropped her onto the bed, doing so with a sense of carelessness as her feet were partially off of it. He closed the room and inspected her and her new room. There were no ways for her to leave except for the doorway through which they had gone through. Her nails were long and her mouth no longer bled, yet something still was odd about her. "Wake UP" He yelled, hand ablaze with Sith Lightning and eyes a darkening by the second. "WAKE UP!"

[member="Khali Strahd"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Khali Strahd]

The force reaching out to touch her again was no longer like a cool breath of fresh air, it was like a teasing master dangling a treat just out of reach of his dog. When the young sith levitated her off the floor her hunger spiked again causing a severe cramp in her gut which brought enough pain to put her unconscious. she welcomed the darkness, thankful for even a momentary reprieve from her overloading senses. when they left the room she was only dimly aware of passing into the training area, the smells of all the force users in this area would have been more than she could bare had she been fully conscious. but she was almost driven awake when he used lightning on the curious child who ventured too close, her body tensing in the air for the briefest moment... then darkness.

Her next memory was the voice of the sith hammering through her mental fog, demanding she wake up. his voice sounded distant and seemed to echo in her ears. but then he shouted again, louder, and it was like an explosion to her sensitive ears. Her altered eyes snapped open. she felt the bed underneath her, and if she were still herself she would not have been able to rise from it's comparative comfort to the cot she was accustomed to.

She quickly turned over on the bed to face the sith with lightning crackling in his hand. for a moment of clarity she wondered what she had done to anger him, then the smell of his blood came to her nostrils and the force pulsing through him imposed itself on her senses and she once again could not drive it back to focus. the hunger returned with renewed urgency and her mind became consumed in almost an instant.

In that moment of clarity she tried to speak, but only managed to say, "M-Master..." before she had lost herself to the hunger and her body drove itself by instincts she didn't know she possessed. with an agility and strength that surprised even her she got her feet under her from being on the bed, every muscle in her body was taught and visible under the tattoos and rags. her eyes were not human, her claws looked deadly. She bared her fangs, but not in anger or a snarl but almost in desperation, her expression almost sad and full of regret.

Her body was primed to lunge... and kill.

[member="Kao Xusros"]
[member="Darth Animus"]

 

[Cay-Yo]

((OOC: Please delete.))

 

[Cay-Yo]

((OOC: Please delete.))

 

[Cay-Yo]

The imperial scout vessel made it's approach to the planet's spaceport, appearing unscathed and well maintained. It showed no signs of the chase that had taken it far from Imperial space while being hunted by the Chiss interceptor. The pilot gave the landing information to port traffic control which cleared him for landing with his cargo. Once the ship landed and the pilot opened the ramp the scout escorted Cay-Yo to the landing pad from the vessel. Cay-Yo was approached by an low-ranking officer who greeted him appropriately as a guest to which Cay-Yo folded his hands behind his back and nodded in thanks. The diminutive Patitite was extraordinarily small compared to most species in the Galaxy and this made it rather awkward for the officer to keep pace with Cay-Yo without quickly leaving him behind in stride.

"I will be taking you to those who have a place for you, Cay-Yo." the officer informed Cay-Yo as they walked slowly out of the space port's walls "You may find Jena'tes to be foreign to your particular experiences... however I am certain that you will find the accommodations fitting." to which Cay-Yo responded "I am not here for comfort, I want to meet these people I was told would make me powerful. That is the reason I am here." clearly the officer was not unfamiliar with demands being made of him and responded in an even tone "You will be received by whoever you're intended to be received by, when they intend to receive you. Until that time I will be your escort."

(OOC: This is my character's introduction to the Jen'ari Empire from his home planet. He was brought by an Imperial scout who recognized his force powers. This is open to anyone.)

 

[Taru Cadera]

[member="Khali Strahd"] had indeed woken up on command, but the resulting figure was different. It was as if she were possessed, as her eyes were different and her body stretched out to show as much muscle as possible.

He immediately stopped exerting the Force and Sith Lightning when she had woken up, and had even turned away from her to explain what was allowed and not allowed in the Academy. However, he had his right hand lowered close to his body and was casually rubbing his thumb across the hilt of his training lightsaber. If she moved, he would turn it on and deftly place the plasma blade close to her neck. Not close enough that she would die, but close enough for her to feel its heat.

Feeling both the creak of the bed as she lunged, and the slight "whoosh" of air cascading around her, he did just as he had prepared. This stunned her for less than a few seconds, as she prepared to go again on the offensive. "Stop Khali! Snap out of whatever madness has taken control of you!" And then with his left hand, he pressed his lightning encompassed fingers to her upper chest, right below her neck. This stunned her quite well, as she fell flat backwards onto the bed. Kao did not know if this was an act or reality, so he kept himself ready for anything else.

 

[Khali Strahd]

When Khali lunged at [member="Kao Xusros"] it was not with human reasoning, all she could think about was the hunger. she could not see a sith that could end her existence, all she could see was the blood pumping through his veins. she could not hear his words as he explained her place in the academy, all she could hear was his heartbeat pounding through her senses.

When she lunged through the air she, of course, misjudged the distance, which probably saved her life from throwing herself on his blade which suddenly appeared at her throat. the blade gave her pause as her sound mind battled her instincts. But when he spoke it sounded as if he were shouting through a wet blanket as the sound of his blood overpowered the sound of his voice.

He suddenly placed his hand on her chest, electrocuting her with his lightning. this sent her flying backwards to the bed from the force of his power and physical strength on her weakened body, but she felt very little pain even though she knew her body took damage. she landed as expected on the mattress but was instantly moving again. She suddenly flipped to her feet and crouched, she leapt to the ceiling with incredible force and clung there like a spider on a wall for the briefest second before flinging herself back down with incredible speed at Kao, twisting herself in those mere seconds to land on his back with her legs wrapped around him and her arms locking his neck in a hold, and her fangs ready to bite.